Chapter 6: Control

QUINN

The room didn’t just fall silent; it tightened. Like something invisible had wrapped its fingers around my throat, waiting to see who would break first.

Jasper had not left, Morrison hadn’t moved. And somehow, I was the battlefield.

I leaned back on the hospital bed, my hand slightly on my abdomen, and the steady beep of the monitor was the only sound one could hear in the hospital room for a moment.

“...if I take over.”

Those words hung in the air like disaster. Whatever it meant, we would find out.

The baby was alive. That was all the only truth I was holding onto, every other thing, Jasper, Morrison, and the tension was noise I refused to drown in.

“You should be resting, the Queen.”

Morrison’s voice broke the silence. He looked calm, as if he had not just created the tension in the room.

I didn’t look at him, nor did I look at Jasper. Because if I did, it would have become something different, and I wasn’t ready to give either of them that.

“I am resting,” I replied calmly.

A faint cough came from the other side of the room. Jasper walked closer, hands in his pockets and face stern. For a moment, I forgot he was still around. He had been quiet since Morrison detonated a bomb.

“Lying on the hospital bed while entertaining an unwanted guest,” Jasper said, “does that not make the rest less?”

My lips curved slightly. Unwanted guest? Interesting. I finally turned my head, and my gaze landed on him.

“What are you still doing here?”

“I am here with my dear wife,” he paused, looking at Morrison, “and an intruder and impostor.”

Trying so hard to be funny when it is not. Jasper would never change. Always trying to prove that he is in control and possession. Unfortunately for him, it would not remain so anymore.

“I am not your wife,” I snapped, “do not be silly. Leave—”

“Or what?”

“The security will take care of that. You don’t want to embarrass yourself, do you?”

Morrison was now standing near the window, his arms folded behind. He stood like a keen observer, doing what he knows best, just watching.

“Gents!” Morrison said, “Is this drama not too much for an, uh-mm, unwanted guest?”

I was going to say whatever was coming out of my mouth when Jasper walked briskly to the side of the room, Morrison stood. It happened so fast, no one but him saw it coming.

He grabbed Morrison by the collar—fast and reckless, like a man who had already lost control but refused to admit it.

“You…what do you want here?”

Morrison did not struggle with him, surprisingly. The Morrison I knew would have sent Jasper crashing to the ground.

“Get your hands off me,” he said.

“Jasper, can you stop all this nonsense?” I said.

He hit Morrison’s chest in anger and let him go as he suddenly began pacing the room.

He acted all paranoid and anxious, like Morrison held something against him that he knew he would set out for the world to see.

Morrison quickly rearranged his now rumpled shirt with a smile on his face.

“I arranged for a private doctor,” he said, ignoring Jasper completely, “you will be moved to a more secure floor.”

Secure? I almost let out a quick laugh. He said it like the danger in the room had already been decided.

 The reaction on Jasper’s face spoke volumes. He was upset and livid.

Jasper let out a short, humourless laugh, “Secure from what? Or should I ask, secure from whom?”

Morrison’s eyes flickered towards him.

“You,” he said.

The room fell silent instantly. Morrison was obviously on a mission, and he appeared satisfied with how he kept everyone on their toes. I can’t remember requesting protection or security from him.

Jasper took a step forward, “Careful.”

Morrison didn’t move or react, which heightened the tension.

“You lost the right to stand here the moment you told her to get rid of the child.”

Silence.

Jasper’s gaze darkened. “That is between my wife and me.”

“She is not your—”

“No,” my voice cut through them.

Both of them stopped, turned and paid attention to me. Both were eagerly waiting to hear what I had to say.

I slowly sat upright, ignoring the dizziness.

“This is between me and myself.”

Jasper stared at me, Morrsion didn’t speak. For once, they were both listening.

“I don’t remember asking any of you to do anything for me.” I continued.

“Quinn,” Jasper called, gesticulating, “this is not something you handle alone. You do not even know him and his intentions.”

Laughs. I do not know Morrison? If only Jasper knew. But I allowed him to wallow in ignorance.

“For heaven's sake, Jasper, what exactly is your aim here? We are divorced. We both signed the papers.”

Silence.

“This baby,” I held my gaze, not blinking, “is not yours. You already rejected it.”

That hit. I saw it in his eyes. Regret? I can’t say. He is the devil himself. But he definitely felt something other than control.

“The cooling-off period just began,” Jasper said, “come back, let's sort this out.”

Morrison and I broke into a laugh, which made Jasper look stupid and uncomfortable. For a moment, I was enjoying the drama.

“Come back? To watch you build a family with my sister?” I asked softly.

His silence answered for him.

Morrison stepped closer, not aggressive, but calculating and calm.

“That will not be necessary,” he said.

Jasper turned sharply, “Stay out of this.”

“I am already in it.”

“Who do you even think you are, dude?” Jasper asked annoyingly.

“Whoever you think I am.”

Jasper laughed. “You think this is your usual games?”

I would have asked what ‘usual games’ he was talking about, but I wouldn’t love to interrupt the drama.

“No,” Morrison replied, “I am just helping you take care of something valuable that you are careless with.”

Something valuable? Not someone? My eyes narrowed slightly. Really interesting choice of words.

“From what I see,” Morrison continued, “she was never yours.”

For the first time, Jasper had no immediate response.

Morrison turned to me. When he spoke, his voice was calm and decisive.

“From now on, you stay under my protection.”

Everything stopped. The air, tension, and even my breath.

“You don’t get to decide that,” Jasper snapped.

Morrison didn’t even look at him. His gaze stayed with me.

“I already did.”

My pulse jumped. Because, for the first time, I wasn’t sure who was more dangerous: the man I escaped from or the one who just claimed me.